E2A Architects
E2A Architects is an Architecture firm based in Zürich, Switzerland. The office is led by Piet Eckert and Wim Eckert who founded E2A Architects in 2001.
Overview
The brothers Piet Eckert and Wim Eckert both graduated from the ETH Zurich in 1994 and 1995. After their studies they joined OMA, working from 1995 to 1997 in Rotterdam, Los Angeles and Seoul. In 2001 Piet and Wim established E2A Architects. They have taught at several schools and universities in Europe and have been Visiting Professors at the Academy of Architecture in Mendrisio since 2014. Their work has been widely published including the comprehensive monograph E2A in 2011 with Hatje Cantz, Silent Form in 2014 with Park Books and more recently the new monograph by 2G Magazine of Gustavo Gili Editors. Their work has expanded geographically and typologically with projects in the realm of the public, cultural, corporate, commercial and the housing sector. Their methodology of work confronts idealism with an inventory of realities. Out of this confrontation a sense of irony arises, a pleasure and a strategic contradiction to reassess an omnipresent burden of context and program. Desire and reality, narrative and analysis form an increasingly conflicted relationship. Therefore, E2A’s contributions do not necessarily adhere to a single vision of cohesion, but rather integrate discrepancies and disruptions with implicit organizational logic. Constraints are converted into architectural forms.Selected projects
Current and completed projects
- Sportshall Wehntal, Niederweningen, 2019-2021
- Water Police Station, Zurich 2019-2021
- Hofacker School, Zurich, 2018-2022
- Apartment Building Geistlich, Schlieren, 2018-2020
- Taz Media Building, Berlin, 2015-2018
- Europaallee, Baufeld H, Zurich, 2014-2017
- Deaconry Bethanien, Zurich, 2012-2016
- Secondary School Campus Moos, Kilchberg-Rüschlikon, 2014-2016
- Single-Family House B., Staefa, 2013-2015
- Apartment Buildings Escherpark, Zurich, 2012-2015
- Escher Terraces - High-Rise Apartments and Rehearsal Stages, Zurich, 2011-2014
- Trafag Production Hall, Bubikon, 2010-2011
- Auditorium and Library, Staefa, 2009-2010
- Center for Hearing and Language, Zurich, 2007-2017
- Heinrich Böll Foundation, Berlin, 2007-2008
- Triangle House, Winterthur, 2007-2008
- Soccer Training Center and Sports Facilities Juchhof, Zurich, 2006-2007
- Terrace Housing, Meilen, 2004-2005
- Broëlberg Residences, Kilchberg, 2002-2003
Design proposals
- Housing, Effretikon, 1st prize, invited design, competition, housing project w. 180 units, 2017
- Werkbundstadt, Berlin, Germany, Invited architectural design competition, housing project, 2016
- Life Science Building, University of Lausanne, 3rd prize, invited architectural design competition, 2016
- Dreispitz Parking + More, Basel, 1st prize ex aequo, invited design competition, 2014
- High-Rise Apartment Building, Project study, schematic design, 2013
- Development Hebebrand district - Pergolenviertel, Hamburg, Germany, 1st prize, invited urban design competition, 2012, urban masterplan, 2012-2013
- Multipurpose Hall, Buochs, 1st prize, invited architectural design competition, 2012
- The Württemberg State Library, Stuttgart, 1st prize ex aequo, invited architectural design competition, extension, 2010-2011
- Bündner Kunstmuseum, Chur, invited architectural design competition, 2011
- Schillerbibliothek, extension, Berlin, Germany, recognition, invited architectural design competition, 2011
- SBB WestLink, Altstetten Zurich, 2nd prize, invited design competition, 2009
- Natural Science Museum, St. Gallen, 2nd prize, invited architectural design competition, 2009
- Marina Tiefenbrunnen, Zurich, 1st prize, urban masterplan, 2008-2009, cooperative study 2011
- University Library Essen-Duisburg, Germany, Invited architectural design competition, 2009
- Kunsthaus Zurich, Invited architectural design competition, 2008
- Richti Areal, Wallisellen, Competition, urban masterplan, 2008
- Escher-Wyss-Area, Zurich, Invited architectural design competition, 2008
- World Trade Organization - Annex Building, Geneva, 1st prize, open international architectural design competition, 2003
- Swiss Embassy, Washington DC, USA, 2nd prize, invited architectural design competition, 2002
Exhibitions
Solo exhibitions
- Arranging Contradictions – Widersprüchliches ordnen, Exhibition at Munich Architecture Gallery, 2013
- Bodies and Layers, Exhibition at Aedes Architekturforum Berlin, 2012
- Bauten und Projekte, Exhibition at the Galerie Renate Kammer. Architektur und Kunst, Hamburg, 2011
- Serien 2004-09, Exhibition at Architecture Gallery am Weissenhof, Stuttgart, 2010
- Modelle, Exhibition at the Architecture Gallery Luzern, 2010
- Fractions of Reality, Solo presentation within 4th Belgrade International Architecture Week – BINA09, Cultural Centre of Belgrade, Belgrad, Serbia, 2009
- Der ideale Kontext, Exhibition at the Architektur Galerie Berlin, 2008
Group exhibitions
- The House of Councillor Krespel, at CAMPO, Rome, 2019
- Dichtelust, Exhibition at the Schweizerisches Architekturmusuem, Basel, 2018
- Schweizweit, Exhibition at the Schweizerisches Architekturmusuem, Basel, 2017
- Werkbund Stadt Berlin 2016, Exhibition at the WerkBundHaus, Berlin, 2016
- Procesos, BIA-AR Bienal Internacional de Arquitectura de Argentina, Pabellón Argentino Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina, 2016
- Swiss Position + Swiss Scale, Curators: Reto Geiser, Nathalie Herschdorfer, Organized by Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft, Korea Foundation, Yonsei University, ETH Zurich, KF Cultural Center, Seoul, South Korea, 2013
- Architekturgalerie Berlin 2006-2009, with AFF, Anderhalten, ARTEC Architekten, E2A, Reimar Herbst / Angelilka Kunkler, Stephan Höhne, Peter Märkli, Modersohn & Freiesleben, Regina Poly, Peter W. Schmidt, Uwe Schröder, Adolf Krischanitz / Anselm Reyle, Riegler Riewe, Sergej Tchoban, Simon Ungers, Franz Erhard Walther, Architecture Gallery Berlin, 2009
Publications
- E2A Architects, Logic and Desire, AV Proyectos 87, Madrid 2018
- Verborgene Vielfalt, Diakonie Bethanien, werk, bauen + wohnen, Zürich 2017
- E2A, Indexpaper Monograph, Indexnewspaper, Porto 2017
- E2A Progetti. Piet Eckert & Wim Eckert, Casa Editrice Libria, Melfi 2016
- E2A, Piet Eckert & Wim Eckert, 2G, Nr. 71, 2015
- Silent Form, E2A, Piet Eckert & Wim Eckert with Jon Naiman, Park Books, Zürich 2014
- E2A Architecture, Piet Eckert & Wim Eckert, Hatje Cantz Verlag, Ostfildern 2012
- E2A Eckert Eckert Architekten, De aedibus, Quart Verlag, Luzern 2006
Awards
- D AM Preis für Architektur in Deutschland 2020, Finalist, taz Neubau, Berlin
- Verzinkerpreis 2019, Award, taz Neubau, Berlin
- American Architecture Prize 2016, Silver Award for Escherpark Housing Complex, Zurich Switzerland 2015, Silver Award for House B, Staefa, Switzerland 2015, Honorable Mention for Campus Moos, Rüschlikon, Switzerland 2016
- Fritz-Höger-Preis für Backstein-Architektur 2014, Silver Award for Escher Terraces high-rise apartments, Zurich, Switzerland 2014
- Best Architects 13 Award 2013, Auditorium and Library, Staefa, Switzerland 2012
- Deutsches Gütesiegel Nachhaltiges Bauen, Gold Label for Baufeld H, Europaallee, Zurich, Switzerland 2012
- Green Good Design Award 2010, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Berlin, Germany 2010
- Bund Deutscher Architekten Award Berlin 2009, Honorable Mention for Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Berlin, Germany 2009
- Schweizer Solarpreis, Sportanlage Juchhof, Zurich, Switzerland 2008
- Best Architects 09 Award 2009, Triangel Haus, Winterthur, Switzerland 2008